Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3071, Abial Drake, Conn. New York

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Conn.
Drake, Abial.
VE. 3071
New York.
Anna
CONTENTS

I Anna Drake of Austerlitz in the County of Columbia & State of New York being Eighty Three years of age do depose & say that I was born in Connecticut & my father lived in Wintonbury in said State & when I was about eight years of age my Father moved to the state of Massachusetts & soon after he moved to the town of Canaan which is now Austerlitz in the State of New York. & I further depose & say that Abial Drake my husband was born in Wintonbury Hartford County & State of Connecticut & I have often heard my said husband say that he was a soldier & out in the Revolutionary War while living in the State of Connecticut for many months but the exact length of time I am unable to say & in the early part of the war he moved to Canaan now Austerlitz in the State of New York & I have heard him say that he was out in the service quite a length of time after moving to the said State of New York & out in alarms at different times. Further the Deponent saith not.
Anna Drake
Berkshire ss.
January 6 th 1845.
Then the said Anna Drake personally appeared & made oath in due form of law that the above deposition by her subscribed is true before me.
Geo. B. Foster Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. I Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do certify that George G. Fossitt is a Justice of the Peace within said County & was on the 6 th day of January 1846 when the within Deposition of Anna Drake was taken before him a Justice of the Peace in said County duly commissioned & qualified at the I believe the signature within purporting to be his is genuine In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court
this 22 nd day of December 1847. Charles Sedgwick CM
H. F. Rockwell 172
196
In the case of the widow of Abiel Drake of Auburn, N. Y. vs. Deposition of Anna Drake. left in possession of his by Mr. Rockwell of Mass at request of said Anna Dec 24. 1847.

State Bch C'd York
Columbia county ss On this twenty eighth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five personally appeared Agnes Alie Stern or Alie Stern first judge of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Columbia Anna Drake a resident of said county aged eighty two years who being duly sworn, avowing to law. on her oath making the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 entitled an Act granting half pay and pension to certain widows. That she is the widow of Abial Drake late of Austintown in Columbia County in the State of New York deceased who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and servant as will appear by the accompanying proof to which she refers for the particulars of his service the same having taken place prior to her marriage to him - She further avows that she was married to the said Abial Drake on the or in the month of October Seventeen hundred and eighty two that her said husband the aforesaid Abial Drake died on the twenty ninth day of March Eighteen hundred and thirteen. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the Army but the marriage took place prior to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and thirty four viz at the time above stated She also avows that she has not intermarried since the death of the said Abial Drake and still continues his widow she cannot state the day of the month she was married but was married in the month of October Seventeen hundred and eighty two Anna Drake marks

Sworn to and
STATE OF NEW-YORK, } ss. COUNTY OF COLUMBIA. }
I, John I. Traver , CLERK of the County of Columbia, and CLERK of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Abraham P. Holland whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument or affidavit and thereon written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Commissioner of Records, in and for the City of Hudson, in said County, dwelling in said City, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Commissioner, and verily believe that the signature to the said proof or acknowledgment is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the County and Court aforesaid, this 11 day of Aug 184 5
J. I. Traver Clerk.

Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year Above written before me Abr Abram P. Holland
First Judge of the court of common pleas and for the county of Columbia

I Herman Sprague of Austerlitze in the county of Columbia & State of New York, aged Sixty five years do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Abial Drake in his lifetime later of said Austerlitze deceased, and Anna Drake his Widow, — I lived in the family of Abial Drake for many years & I have often heard him say that previous to the Revolutionary War and after the commence- of the War that he lived in the State of Connecticut and that he served in the Revolu- -tionary War while living in that State several months before the close of the War he moved to the State of New York & was out in some Short a terms after he moved to said Austerlitze, — And I also say that at the request of the said Anna Drake I have made search of the town Records & I have made some other Bible and also all the account Books in & about the house & cannot find any Record of their Marriage, — The said Anna has caused the Deposition to be taken of her Sister Louis St John who lives in the City of New York & was at her Wedding & the Deposition has been sent to Washington as she supposed amongst the rest of her papers.
Herman Sprague West Stockbridge Nov 15: 1845.

Berkshire ss Weststockbridge
Nov 15 1845 Then the above named Herman Sprague made oath to the foregoing Deposition personally before me and thereby certifying that the above named Herman Sprague is a credible witness
Nathaniel Forster justice of the peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire ss. Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth in the County of Berkshire, Certify that Nathaniel Forster Esq. was on the 15 th day of November instant known to me of the substance of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned & qualified, and that I believe the above signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Lenox the seventeenth day of November 1845. Charles Sedgwick

West Stockbridge Dec 4 th 1884
Dr Sir
Will you please inform me whether a Pension has been granted to Anna Drake of Austerlitz N.Y. widow of Abial Drake a revolutionary soldier. If such pension has been granted, please write me what the amount of it was, and to whom the draft was sent. Mrs Drake has been dead two years or more and if a pension has been granted, the money should have gone to her heirs instead of to a grandson who it is supposed has obtained it
To S. P. Waldo Esq Commission of Pensions
Yours truly E. H. Woodruff

J.H. Rev. War Section
August 30, 1918
Miss Alice M. Gay, 256 Ashley Street, Hartford, Connecticut.
Madam:
In response to your letter of the twelfth instant, you are advised that in the claim R. File No. 3071, Rev. War, it appears that Abial Drake was born (date not stated) at Wintonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, and during the early part of the Revolutionary War, moved from there to Austerlitz, Columbia County New York, where he married in October, 1783, Anna - - - -, and where he died March 29, 1813. The widow applied for pension July 28, 1845, while eighty-two years of age and a resident of Austerlitz, New York, alleging that her husband rendered several months service in the Revolutionary War while a resident of Connecticut and also while residing in New York. She stated no names of officers and no particulars of his service, and her application was rejected on account of lack of proof of service as required by the Act of July 7, 1838, under which she applied.
She died about 1852.
Very respectfully,
E. C. Newman
Acting Commissioner.
The report of the Comptroller of Conn., refers to Abiel Drake, (S. File No. 38674) who was alive in 1818.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1870.
1918, Aug. 20. History to Alice M. Gay. Fr.
3071
P. O. _____
Anna Alpahe
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: List of suspended claims printed in 1852 shows cause
Re-enlisted: of suspension as follows: For proof of identity with the soldier of his name on the Connecticut records.
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

✓ Anna Drake 122 40 NY. Abiel Jul 6 N. Price, Nov. 5 '45 Jul 6 Anne Oct 18 '45 Rev. J. Rockwell, Dec 5 '26 40 Hon. J. Rockwell Jan 7 '45 P. H. Hunt Oct 21 1832 C. H. Woodruff Dec 9 1834
Anna Drake Nov 1838 True S. P. Waldo Esq. Commission of Pensions Washington D.C.

Lenox October 6 th 1845
J. L. Edwards Esq,
Sir,
I send you the Declaration of Anna Drake the Widow of Abiel Drake with the accompanying Proofs
Respectfully yours
Abiel Pease
Pease

12240. Oct 9. 1845
to Anna Drake
July 1. 1838.
PAID
20
L. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.
Since mid 1813 no papers.

Lenox October 6 th 1845
J. L. Edwards Esq,
Sir,
I send you the Declaration of Anna Drake the Widow of Abial Drake with the accompanying Proofs
Respectfully yours
Abial Pease
Please

Washington, Aug. 9 th 1852
Sir:
I am requested by M ch l Pease Esq. of Senoy, Mass. to ask for a reexamination of the claim of Anna Drake widow of Abiel Drake, for Pension under the Act of 7 th July 1838 — on the New York suspended list.
Mr. Pease has shown me two letters from the Pension Office in this case, of the dates of November 5 th and December 18 th 1845, and copies of depositions filed by him since that time, from which it appears to me that the objections stated in said letters have been removed.
I am, very respectfully Your obed Servt J. V. Crowl
F. F. C. Nuttall Esq Act g Com r of Pensions.

I Ruth Woodruff of Weststockbridge in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy Eight years do depose & say, that I was well acquainted with Abial Drake in his lifetime & I have often heard him say that he was in the War of the Revolution whilst living in the State of Connecticut & also after moving to the State of New York. My Husband Asa Woodruff was a Revolutionary Soldier & I have often heard them talking together & tell what took place when out in the service & it has been a common report & generally understood that the said Abial was in the War of the Revolution & if living would be entitled to a pension. Further than this the Deponent saith not.
Ruth Woodruff
Berkshire ss. Weststockbridge Nov. 24 th 1846
Subscribed & sworn to this twenty fourth day of November A.D. 1846. before me & I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the said Ruth Woodruff & know her to be a person of good moral character & a creditable witness.
Geo. H. Foskett Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Plymouth.
I Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the County of Plymouth do certify that George G. Foster Esquire is one of the Justices of the Peace within said County duly Commissioned qualified; and that I believe the foregoing signature true to the best of my knowledge.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas at Lynn this 24 day of November 1846. Charles Sedgwick Clerk.

Wilson Drake 6.
Hughes Rockwell 182

Medical Press Eng.
London

State of New York Columbia County ss.
I Elisha B. Kellogg of the town of Inverness do here by say that I am Town Clerk of the town of Inverness County of Columbia and State of New York And that I have Carefully examined all the Books and Records belonging to or relating to the said town of Inverness aforesaid in my possession and cannot find the name of Abia Drake and Anna Drake or either of them upon any of said Records Neither any Record of their marriage And further this Affidavit saith not. Dated at Inverness the 16 th day of April 1846
Elisha B. Kellogg
State of New York Columbia County ss. On this 16 th day of April 1846 the above named Elisha B. Kellogg to me well known and who is Town Clerk of the aforesaid town of Inverness and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the
STATE OF NEW-YORK, } ss. COUNTY OF COLUMBIA. }
I, John I. Traver, CLERK of the County of Columbia, and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That H. D. Lord whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument or Affidavit and thereon written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledg- ment, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County aforesaid, duly sworn and authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice, and verily believe that the signature to the said proof or acknowledgment is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the County and Court aforesaid, this 13 th day of April 184 6
J. I. Traver Clerk

State of New York Columbia County ss.
I Elisha B. Kellogg of the town of Inverness do here by say that I am Town Clerk of the town of Inverness County of Columbia and State of New York And that I have Carefully examined all the Books and Records belonging to or relating to the said town of Inverness aforesaid in my possession and cannot find the name of Abia Drake and Anna Drake or either of them upon any of said Records neither any Records of their marriage And further this Affiant saith not. Dated at Inverness the 6th day of April 1846
Elisha B. Kellogg
State of New York Columbia County ss. On this 6th day of April 1846 the above named Elisha B. Kellogg to me well known and who is town Clerk of the aforesaid town of Inverness did make oath in due form of law to the truth of the truth of the above Affidavit by him subscribed before me H. G. Ford Justice of the Peace

I Sarah Palmerly of West Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty eight to testify & say that I was well acquainted with Abiah Drake for many years before his death & Anna Drake his Widow & have often heard him in his family talk of his  Serving in the Revolutionary War and it has been the common report that he was a Revolutionary Soldier. That I have always understood that he was born & brought up in Wintonbury in the State of Connecticut & in the course of the Revolutionary war he removed to the town of Astoria in the State of New York not far from where I now live & have lived for many years before his death. Further the deponent saith not.
Berkshire County ss.
Sarah Palmerly
Oct. 11 th 1886
Then the abovenamed Sarah Palmerly personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above Deposition By her subscribed before me & said Sarah Palmerly is a credible witness.
George E. Haskell Justice of the Peace

I Silas Rowley of Bloomfield (late Wintonbury) in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut being eighty five years of age depose and say - That I have resided in said town eighty years - That when I was a boy I knew a young man by the name of Abial Drake who was older than myself said Drake then resided in this town, he left this town in the early part of the Revolutionary War and went to the State of New York and I do not recollect of seeing him since - and would further say that I was out in the Revolutionary War in the year 1776 but was not out in the year 1775 therefore cannot particularize the service of said Drake or the names of his Officers who were taken from different parts of the country - further the deponent saith and I would further say that I have never known any other person by the name of Abial Drake in this town or about here further the deponent saith not
Silas Rowley
Bloomfield September 21 st A D 1846
State of Connecticut Hartford County ss Bloomfield Sep r 21 st 1846 Personally appeared the above named Silas Rowley and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition - by him subscribed before me Silas Rowley is a credible witness Jacob H. Hubbard Justice of the Peace
State of Connecticut County of Hartford ss
I Lorain T. Pease Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid Keeper of the Seal thereof and of the Commission of the Justice of the Peace in said County hereby Certify that Jacob H. Hubbard of Bloomfield in said County was on the 21 st day of September 1846 known to me a Justice of the Peace within said County duly appointed Commissioned & sworn. And that the foregoing signature purporting to his is his genuine official signature
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 21 st day of Sept 1846 L. T. Pease Clerk

J. Coomax Oct 21/52 "

Pension Office Octo 21 1852
Sir
I have examined the case of Anna Drake of NY, and have to inform you, that there is a service of 7 months & 12 days shown to have been performed by a man named Abrial Drake, but that this office has no evidence before it, to show that this soldier was the husband of the applicant (the applicant). Her sister swears that she was married in 1781, but does not fortify her memory by any collateral circumstances. Before the claim can be allowed, the date of the marriage must be established, and her husband must be identified with the service above admitted.
J. J. Coombs Esq Present

Hon. J. Rockwell Dec. 20. 1846.

471 Pension Office Decemr. 26, 1846
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that None of the witnesses, whose testimony  affidavits have been filed by you in the case of Anna Drake were themselves in service with her husband and consequently, cannot identify him with Abiel Drake credited with service on the record of Connecticut under the the 2 d Company of the as enlisted by the Secretary Comptroller of that State.
The proof of the date of their marriage is also defective.
Col Julius Rockwell House of Reps,

That Please D. N. 45

309 Pension Office Decr. 18th 1845
Sir,
The Supplemental Statement of Damon Sprague, in the case of Anna Drake adds nothing to the testimony heretofore filed. The officers having charge of the Town records and of the Church register should have certified above their own proper signatures, that their records afforded no evidence of this marriage. The proof of the marriage and the identity of claimant's husband with Abiel Drake of the 3 d Company and Second Regiment of the Connecticut Line heretofore required must be produced before this claim can be allowed. The evidence now on file is wholly insufficient.
Neil Pease Esq. Sentry Map

W. Vase Nov 5:45

Pension Office Nov. 5. 1845
Sir
The papers in the case of Mrs Anna Drake have been examined & filed
There is no evidence given which would identify claimants husband with the Abel Drake whose service of 7 months and twelve days is certified to by the Comptroller of the State of Conn. Proof of this fact is required
The date of the marriage is not sufficient  satisfactory  shown . Parole testimony cannot be taken until it be first shown that there is no family register or record which by its antiquity so would establish the fact. if there is none such then the testimony of intelligent & respectable persons who knew them in the relation of husband & wife prior to Jan y 1 st '94 may be received
J Pease Esq Lenox
Mass.

State of New York City & County of New York } ss: Louis St John of said city being duly sworn doth depose & say that she is a sister of Anna Drake widow of Abial Drake late of Austerlitz Columbia County in the State of New York deceased, the same place where the said Anna Drake has always resided since her marriage and still resides. And deponent further says that the said Anna Drake was united in marriage with the said Abial Drake in the fall of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, that deponent was present when the marriage ceremony was performed between the said Abial & Anna Drake but she does not now recollect the day or the month in said year. That the marriage ceremony was performed by the Reverend Jacob Drake then of the said town of Austerlitz a regular ly ordained minister of the Gospel
Sworn before me this 28 th day of August 1845 B. A. Campbell Comm n of Deeds
Louis St John

State of New York
City & County of New York ss. Louis St John of said City being duly sworn doth depose & say that she is a sister of Anna Drake widow of Abial Drake late of Austerlitz Columbia County in the State of New York deceased, the same place where the said Anna Drake has always resided since her marriage and still resides. And deponent further says that the said Anna Drake was united in marriage with the said Abial Drake in the fall of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, that deponent was present when the marriage ceremony was performed between the said Abial & Anna Drake but she does not now recollect the day or the month in said year. That the marriage ceremony was performed by Jacob Drake
to Jacob Drake Austerlitz a regular the Gospel
STATE OF NEW-YORK, CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK, } ss.
I, James Conner, CLERK of the City and County of New-York,
That B. A. Campbell before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the time of taking the same, a Commissioner of Deeds in and for said City and County, duly commissioned and sworn, and authorized by the laws of this State to take the same; and that I believe the Signature of said Commissioner of Deeds thereunto subscribed is genuine.
viij St John
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said County, the 30 th day of August 1845
James Conner Clerk.

Nov. 21. 1847 Recd. for car Anna Drake
18
L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Senex Nov r 17, 1845,
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir
I send you the Deposition of Hermann Sprague of Austurbitze in relation to the identity of Richard Drake & Anna his Widow
Respectfully yours Nial Pease

State of New York } Columbia County } ss. Herman Sprague of the town of Austere in the County of Columbia and State of New York Aged Sixtyfive Years After being duly Sworn According to Law Deposes and Says That I was well acquainted with Abial Drake in his Life Time Late of the Said town of Austere Deceased. And Anna Drake his Wife now his widow. and that the Said Abial Drake Died at Said Austere on the twentythird day of March One thousand eight hundred and thirtun And that the Said Anna has not Since Married but Still Continues the widow of the Said Abial Drake Deceased. And that I was present at his Death and Burial. And further Saith Not.
Sworn and Subscribed before me Herman Sprague This 11 th day of August 1845. H. D. Ford Justice of the Peace
State of New York } Columbia County } ss. Elisha B. Kellogg of the town of Austere in the County of Columbia and State of New York. Being duly Sworn Deposes and Says that he is town Clerk of the Said town of Austere. And that he has diligently searched all the Records of the Said town of Austere in order to find a Record of the

Marriage of Abial Drake. Late of the town of Psherty Decard. and Anna Drake his Wife and cannot find any Record there of and further Saith that. Elisha, B. Kellogg Sworn and Subscribed before me This 11 th day of August 1845. H. D. H. Justice of the Peace
STATE OF NEW-YORK. } COUNTY OF COLUMBIA. }
I, John L. Traver, CLERK of the County of Columbia, and CLERK of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Hiram D. Field whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument or affh and thereon written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledg- ment, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County aforesaid, duly sworn and authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice, and verily believe that the signature to the said proof or acknowledgment is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the County and Court aforesaid, this 11 day of Aug 1845
J. L. Traver Clerk

House of Representatives
Dec 17. 1844
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir - I am requested to forward to you the enlosed depositions of Ruth Woodruff, Silas Rowley, and Sarah Pamela - and Elisha B Mellor; in the matter of Anna Drake's application for a pension. Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
Julius Rockwell
145 Pension

12240
Anna Drake N.Y. mom of Abiel
Act Inft '38
3071

This refers to Abiel Drake, S. F. 38674, Rev War.
Comptroller's Office Connecticut. Hartford 26 May 1845.
On application for evidence of the service of Abiel Drake, in the war of the Revolution, I have examined the documents remaining in this Office relating to that War, and in a Paper headed "A Pay Roll of the 3 d Company of the 2 d Reg t raised p r order General Assembly, Colony Connecticut, May 1775," I find the name of Abiel Drake; who is there stated to have enlisted May 7 th & to have been discharged December 19 th serving as a private Seven Months & twelve days.
A Carrington Comptroller

Pension Office Dec 9 1834
Sir
No pension has been allowed in the case of Anna Drake, widow of Abiel of NY.
let woodruffes
West Yorkbridge Ireaf

Rev. War Section
August 20, 1918
Miss Alice M. Gay, 256 Ashley Street, Hartford, Connecticut.
Madam:
In response to your letter of the twelfth instant, you are furnished, herewith, a history of the claim R. File No. 3071, Rev. War, Anna, widow of Abial Drake, and advised that owing to the great pressure of current work and the lack of a clerical force available for such a purpose, this Bureau is unable to undertake a series of investigations and reports in regard to Revolutionary War claims for any person or organization.
You or anyone designated by you may examine and collect data from a reasonable number of such claims, by calling at the Bureau.
Very respectfully,
A. C. McLaughlin Acting Commissioner.

Res 21 5 71 D To the Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C.
A short time ago you sent me abstracts of two pensions, that gave me so much interesting data that I am going to ask another favor. May I have the records of Abial Drake, whose widow applied from New York. Gideon Drake, Lory or Lowry Drake. Moses Drake and Noah Drake.
I am very sorry to trouble you again, but your last statements

gave me information that I could not have gained elsewhere. I thank you most heartily for your help-
Yours very truly (Miss) Alice M. Gay.
256 Ashley St. Hartford. Conn. Aug-12-1918-